Various types of children’s beds

By Annie Lavigne - 11 October 2011 - Show all 2 comments

You’re expecting a new bundle of joy in your life and your eldest child needs to change rooms? You’ve moved, or your youngest has turned into a bassinet-climbing acrobat? For this and many other reasons, maybe you have to make do with a room small enough to give you headaches. I don’t have the solution to headaches, but I can sure help you navigate through the various types of children’s beds available on the market. Then you can assess your needs and decide which bed would suit you best.

Platform bed with legs

Platform bed with legs – 3050

This type of bed has a simple look to it but may be just the ticket if you don’t want to buy a headboard. You can hide storage bins underneath. It’s a cost-effective solution since it doesn’t require a box spring.

Platform bed with storage

Platform bed with storage – 3159

This bed doesn’t require a box spring either and has a drawer at the end, which is great for storing blankets and pillows.

Mate’s bed

Mate’s bed – Popular collection 2779

The mate’s bed has a lot of storage space thanks to its three drawers, without taking up extra space.

Once a princess, always a princess

By Sophie Drouin - 3 October 2011 - No comments on this post

Closet door

Generally, around the age of 2 or 3 years old it’s time to leave the crib or toddler bed and upgrade to a big-kid bed. I have two girls, and I don’t know whose fault it is—mine or my partner’s—but at this age they really like princesses and the colours pink and purple. I’m kidding of course; I also loved that stuff as a kid.

While I do like all films by Mr. Cryogenic (a.k.a. Walt Disney), I don’t necessarily want my comforter, lamp, rug and clock covered in his magical characters. It’s clearly a question of personal taste, but I prefer to use them sparingly because they are quickly dated and I don’t want to redecorate every two years—not enough time or funds! And to be honest, I am a little tired of seeing them all over the house (e.g., puzzles, story books, umbrellas, crayons . . . the list goes on).

Like all parents, I still want to please my girls and decorate their room the way they like so that they feel at home.

Here are a few tricks that I used to create a paradise fit for a princess; a princess who no longer sucks her thumb and can ride a bike.

Stuck with a small bedroom?

By Marie-Pier Perron - 21 September 2011 - No comments on this post

There are many reasons why you may find yourself stuck with a small bedroom. For me, it was because I found the apartment of my dreams: good neighbourhood, lots of closets and storage space, large balcony, great location! That said, not everything was perfect: the bedroom was probably half the size of my previous room.

In my case, the old trick of making a scale floor plan to help decide where to put the furniture didn’t work. I had a bigger problem: there wasn’t enough space in my room to put all of my furniture. That’s OK, I was prepared to compromise and do away with some pieces. Particularly because I tend to feel claustrophobic in small spaces, overfilling the room and feeling cramped was not an option. The problem now is that I have the same amount of clothes, shoes and accessories as before, and this time compromising is out of the question—I WANT to keep everything. And therein lies the problem.

Here are a few tricks that I found helped me:

Because furniture must be kept to a minimum, choose pieces that are tall and narrow. Mate’s beds are also great; the drawers underneath are the perfect place to store bulky sweaters.

Tissue boxes: the perfect final touch for your home decor!

By Nicole Basenach - 16 September 2011 - No comments on this post

OK, I admit it: I’m obsessed with the small things, especially when I’m decorating or cooking. I’m admitting this to you today because I know that I can’t be the only one out there—do you see a bit of yourself in this story?

Just like you probably do, I have tissue boxes strewn here and there and everywhere around the house: in the powder room, bathroom, kitchen, living room, bedroom . . . but not just ANY tissue boxes, mind you. I choose boxes that match my decor and pick up on the colours—and even the style—of the rooms in my house. When I find a style that catches my eye, I’ll even hike my way across town to a pharmacy or grocery store if I can get my hands on it in bulk.

Looking around at the wealth of riches on offer in the tissue box aisle, I realize that I’m not the only one putting so much thought into the subject: companies are coming out with more and more interesting designs using trendy colours and all shapes and sizes. Seeing as we already hunt down pillows, baskets and knick-knacks to match our decorating scheme, what could be wrong with personalizing a simple little inexpensive item for a bit of extra oomph factor?

Storage solutions

By Alain Juneau - 29 August 2011 - No comments on this post

Does opening your closet doors strike fear in your heart? Are you reminded of a warehouse when you look under the bed? Is trying to find your youngest’s red pants like a treasure hunt? Maybe it’s time to reorganize!

Make sure your furniture meets your needs

The change table you bought when your little angel was born no longer has enough storage space for all the skirts and tops she looks so adorable in. Before adding an extension to the house or building a Beverly Hills-worthy walk‑in closet, start by looking at your current furniture arrangement. Purchasing a bed with drawers might be all that you need. Or maybe you can solve your storage woes by replacing the three-drawer chest with a double dresser and storage hutch added on top. If, however, after a systematic analysis you find that your rooms are adequately furnished but you still have a serious storage problem, here are some options you might find useful.

Wall storage

Cupboards or cubbies secured to the wall just under the ceiling won’t get in the way of your living space and will provide you with storage for those items of sentimental value that don’t get used daily. They’re a great place to safely keep wedding presents, out-of-season clothing, slides from your tender youth and the recipe books handed down from mom.